Mouthpiece for telephones or speaking tubes and like instruments



May 19, 1931. E. w. ROBERTS MOUTHPIEGE FOR TELEPHONES OR SPEAKING TUBES AND LIKE INSTRUMENTS Filed Oct. 21. 1929 WW a 1* 17/6 ATTORNEY Patented May 19, 1931 UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE EDWARD W. ROBERTS, OF CHICAGO; ILLINOIS Application filed October 21, 1929. Serial No. 401,244.

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in mouthpieces for telephones or speaking tubes and like instruments and has for its principal object the provision of an improved construction of this character which will be highly efiicient in use and economical in manufacture.

Among the several objects of this invention is to provide a mouthpiece which is constructed in a manner to afford the confinement of a saturated or impregnated member in the confines of the area where germs are likely to collect for the purpose of destroying these germs thereby providing a mouthpiece which will be sanitary.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary face elevational view of a telephone showing my improved mouthpiece associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the mouthpiece embodying my invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of the same taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail View of the same taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fi 3.

idouthpieces which are now customarily used in connection with telephones and speaking tubes or like instruments comprise a body formed to provide a funnel shaped mouth the opening of which terminates into 4.0 a cylindrical bore formed in the base of the mouthpiece. In speaking into this mouthpiece moisture from the breath will collect in this cylindrical bore and this cylindrical bore provides a place for the collection of germs. Ordinarily this bore is not of sufiicient diameter to afford cleaning the same so as to assure removal of the collected moisture and germs deposited upon the walls of the base of the mouthpiece within the bore.

As stated it is one of the many objects of this invention to provide a mouthpiece which will be sanitary and in this connection my improved mouthpiece includes a body 10 preferably though not necessarily formed cylindrical in cross section and provided with a central bore 11. The wall 12 of the body 10 which I prefer to term the base is provided with a reduced collar 18 threaded externally as at 14: for threaded engagement into the usual thread bearing bushing provided by the head of a telephone or speaking tube or other like instrument. This collar carries a web 15 which closes the base of thebody 10 and this web is provided with a plurality of perforations 16 so as to prevent distortion of the voice when speaking through the mouthpiece.

My improved mouthpiece further includes a funnel shaped mouth 17 and in forming this funnel shaped mouth it is preferable that the length of the same be of a minimum dimension whereby to provide the smallest area 18 upon which moisture or germs may be collected and which moisture or germs may be easily removed by wiping a cloth saturated with a germ destroying fluid or the like against thls area.

To the rear of the funnel shaped mouth 17 there is provided a shoulder 19 by reducing the body from which the mouthpiece is formed to a reduced portion 20. This reduced portion 20 is threaded externally as at 21 for threaded engagement with the internal threads 22 formed at the entrance of the body 10. When the funnel shaped mouth is attached to the body 10 the shoulder 19 will butt against the outer edge of the body 10.

To the rear of this reduced portion 20 there is formed a second reduced portion 23 which I prefer to call a sleeve. This sleeve 23 is of a diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the bore 11 but of a diameter equal to the diameter of a reduced bore 24 formed in the base 12 whereby the interior end of the sleeve will bear against the web 15. When the sleeve 23 is mounted in its respective position as just rescribed there will be formed between the sleeve and I the'body 10 a cylindrical chamber 25. As shown this sleeve .23 is provided with a luralit of perforations 26 to admit the mes rom a saturated collar or tube 27 i 5 confined in the chamber 11. As indicated 29 thsrefore; do not wish to-be limited to the precise details of construction as set forth, but desire toavail myself of-such variations and modifications as'come within the scope of the appended. claim.' I 1 V Having thus described my invention what 7 I claim as, new ,and'desire to protect by I Letter's'la is: Y a.

A mouthpiece for telephones or like in struments comprising a tubular member hav- 39 ing an outwardly flared lip at one end and v a perforated disc at the other end to permit sound vibrations to pass therethrough, said tubular member being perforated fromisaid shoulder to a'point adjacent said disc, said tubularmember having an annular shoulder on the outer surface thereof adjacent the I flared clip, a sleeve 1threade'dly mounted on said tubular member and including an ofis et portion extended overt-he perforated area i ofsaid tubular member so as to define a chamber above the perforated'area of said tubular member so that' an antiseptic" and absorbent body may be disposed in said I chamberWhereby the fumes thereof 1 will 4" pass through the perforations in said tubular memberf 7 a In testimonywhereof I aflix my signature.

- EDWARD W'. ROBERTS 

